Dogies land 9 AC picks — Depth, balance, and defense drive Newcastle’s postseason haul
Newcastle’s 6–1 run through the 2A East behind the third-best offense in Class 2A (320 yards per game) translated into a heavy postseason haul, as nine Dogies earned All-Conference recognition and two were named All-State.
Quarterback/free safety Teddy Troftgruben and two-way playmaker Dane Crabtree headlined the list as All-State selections. Troftgruben guided an attack that finished in the top three in 2A rushing (250.0 ypg, 6.4 per carry) and chipped in 569 passing yards, while adding 570 rushing yards. Crabtree was one of the classification’s most versatile threats: 758 rushing yards (13 TD), 165 receiving yards (2 TD), and 302 kick-return yards with a long of 87. He finished fourth in 2A scoring at 10.0 points per game (100 total).
The Dogies’ ground game produced one of the state’s signature performances — 463 rushing yards vs. Glenrock (Oct. 3), the top single-game rushing total posted by any 2A team this fall. Senior Collin McConkey (697 rushing yards, 9 TD) gave Newcastle a second 1A-caliber bellcow, highlighted by 169 yards in the Wheatland win. Senior Cort Perino (team-best 255 receiving yards, 4 TD) provided the vertical punch, including a 99-yard night against Big Horn and the 53-yard score that sealed Wheatland's fate.
Defensively, the Dogies finished in the top half of 2A in total defense and were powered by Jace Rich, who ranked among the classification’s leaders at 18.6 defensive points per game with 94 tackles, 12 TFL and 2 sacks. Edge Mason Rawhouser (97 def. pts., 9 TFL, 4 sacks) and linebacker Drew Conzelman (113 def. pts., 72 tackles) formed a reliable spine. Senior Nate White anchored the interior, and senior Cole Erb impacted all three phases — defense (9 TFL, 5 sacks), kicking (20/25 PATs), and a 40-yard rushing TD against Wheatland.
Newcastle’s recognition reflects how well the roster fit together: a top-three rushing offense, timely explosives in the passing game and a defense that traveled. The Dogies also closed the year with one of 2A’s best special-teams profiles, including Dustin McCarthy’s 61-yard punt — one of the longest in the classification this season — and Erb’s kickoff ledger (43.1 avg).
2025 Newcastle Football Postseason Honors
All-State & All-Conference
Teddy Troftgruben (Sr.): QB/FS
Dane Crabtree (Jr.): WR/LB
All-Conference
Drew Conzelman (Sr.): TE/LB
Cort Perino (Sr.): WR/SS
Collin McConkey (Sr.): HB/LB
Jace Rich (Sr.): LB
Nate White (Sr.): OL/DL
Mason Rawhouser (Jr.): OL/DE
Honorable Mention All-Conference
Cole Erb (Sr.): FB/DE
Colton Hatheway (So.): WR/CB
2A Toppers
Team Offense (2A rank): 320.0 ypg (3rd); Rushing: 250.0 ypg (top 3), 6.4 per carry
Signature Team Game: 463 rush yards vs. Glenrock (best single-game rushing total listed among 2A this season)
Scoring Leaders: Crabtree 100 points (4th in 2A); McConkey 64 points
Defense Leaders: Rich 94 tackles, 18.6 def. pts/g (among 2A leaders); Conzelman 72 tackles; Rawhouser 54 tackles with 9 TFL/4 sacks
Explosive Plays: Perino 73-yard long reception this season; Crabtree 87-yard kick return; Troftgruben 73-yard long pass this season
Special Teams: Erb 20/25 PATs; McCarthy 61-yard punt (among longest recorded in 2A this year)